Former MC baseball player now enjoys career with New York YankeesMay 13, 2020

In 2009, Joe Wielbruda was a 19-year-old high school graduate from Youngstown, Ohio, when he first arrived in Midland as a baseball recruit for the Midland College (MC) Chaps baseball team. 

“I was a long way from home, and didn’t know anything outside of my hometown,” he said.  “I didn’t know what to expect; however, from the very start, I found Midland to be friendly and accommodating.”

Wielbruda credits retired MC Student Activities Director Jan Reed and Secretary Jan Johnston with making him feel at home during his two years at MC:  “They were caring—like my second moms.”

“The coaches stressed team camaraderie and accountability,” Wielbruda recalled.  “They told us, ‘You won’t remember the games; in a few years it won’t matter that you played New Mexico Junior College on May 24.  What you will remember are the times you spend with your teammates.’  To this day, I still keep in touch with Coach Coleman and Coach Rod and a lot of the guys who played with me at Midland College.

“One other person that I would like to mention is Forrest Allen [MC Athletic Director].  He was like a father figure to me and all of the athletes at MC.  He took so much pride in us, and I’ll always remember him taking pictures with his camera at all the sporting events.”

In 2011, Wielbruda transferred to the University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville, Florida, and became a member of the UNF Ospreys Baseball Team.   In 2013, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Communications from UNF.

“I also credit Midland College with my choice of a major,” Wielbruda explained.  “I’ve always been interested in business relationships and effective communication.  When I was at MC, Joe Willis was my public speaking professor.  He was awesome.  He helped me become comfortable with speaking in groups.  I found that I enjoyed giving presentations and finding the best way to communicate with people.”

Wielbruda has now combined his love of baseball and his degree into a successful career.

After graduating from UNF, he spent a year interning with the New York Yankees in their public relations office where he was given the opportunity to put his communication skills into practice through various responsibilities including writing press releases and game notes and compiling roster moves.  He then spent a year working in Woodbridge, Virginia for the Washington Nationals’ Advanced-A team, the Potomac Nationals, and two years in Indianapolis, Indiana working for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Triple-A team, the Indianapolis Indians.

In 2017, the New York Yankees offered Wielbruda an opportunity to work for them once again—this time in Tampa, Florida, at the team’s minor league complex.  Wielbruda is the Yankees minor league video coordinator.  As such, he collects data and video from each of the eight Yankees minor league teams and compiles them so that the players’ progress of development can be tracked.  He refers to himself as a “video librarian.”

“So far in my career, I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the U.S. and the Dominican Republic,” Wielbruda said.  “All of my jobs have given me the opportunity combine my baseball savvy with my communications background.”

When asked if the minor leagues would be able to play this year, Wielbruda said that the team is still waiting to hear a plan from Major League Baseball.  According to an article in Long Island’s daily newspaper Newsday, the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa was closed on March 13.

“We have lots of Zoom meetings,” Wielbruda stated.  “However, no one knows yet when or if the 2020 season will start.  Everyone is remaining optimistic for baseball to be played in 2020.  We are all anxiously waiting to hear.”

During the off season and when he has some downtime, Wielbruda enjoys the outdoor life in Tampa, especially running and rollerblading.  His favorite spot is the Tampa Riverwalk, which runs along Tampa’s beautiful waterfront.

“The views are amazing!” he exclaimed.

Even though, Wielbruda has been away from Midland for nine years, he still keeps in touch with Midland and Midland College.  He follows MC social media and Midland Reporter Telegram Sports Editor Oscar LeRoy on Twitter.

“I will never forget my time at Midland College,” Wielbruda said.  “I credit a lot of who I am to my two years at MC.”